Inception, My Theory on how it ends-SPOILERS

Now, tons of people have tons of theories of what they think really happened at the end of Inception. Some say that the whole thing is a dream which I can't believe, since Nolan's movies like The Prestige, and Memento aren't that simple. SOme think that you notice that in a dream Cobb has a wedding ring, and in reality he doesn't, now the regular viewer won't be noticeing that.

Now my theory is that, they performed the Inception, and Cobb and everyone is back in reality. Now the clues that they performed the Inception is because Robert Fischer told Eames that he finally found out what his dad wanted him to be. SO an idea was set in his mind. Now is Cobb back in reality, to me he is. When he wakes up on the plane, Arthur smiles at him, Ariadne gives him like a "good job" look, and Saito's look has the little stretch and look that we have when we wake up which is "what just happened" Then when Cobb goes into the airport, it seems that his whole team has forgotten about him, same with Robert Fischer when he passes Fischer, Fischer looks at him like "why do i know him" Cobb then ends up in his home and spins his totem to me it looks very shaky and what I think happens is that because its very shaky right before the black screen I think he is in reality and is finally home.

Ok well thats my theory, its not right, nothing is usually the right answer with Nolan's movies. I would like to hear everyone else's theories

I think that Cobb is in a dream. I know that Nolan usually wants to make people think about what happened or how to end is going to be. But the part where Cobb visits Miles (Michael Caine´s character) and he´s says to Cobb: "Come back to reality Dom". That´s the spot where u can clearly understand that Dom has lost control over himself and cant see the difference between dream and real world.

It came from dreams. Dreams itself has magic, so it is not necessary to know how the ending is going on. You can think they all still in dreams, or you can think they have returned back to reality. These two all can be established.
Dreams should be free, but they still are bounded by their dreams.
So I think all can be established, it determined by you.

@Rocconeverdies, are you saying the whole thing is a dream, i mean thats too simple for such a complex movie, and why would Cobb walk away from the totem, Cobb knew that he was back in reality since he woke up on the plane where they hooked up everyone, which was reality

I think it's reality. The wedding ring is of course one thing. But I also think that Cobb's true totem is his children's faces. When he can see those faces he knows he is in reality. That's why he just runs away from the spinning top. Because it doesn't matter. The faces of his children is proof enough for him that he isn't dreaming. Everytime he sees them in the dreams, he only sees their backs. In reality he can see their faces.

Isn't this all just re-worded synopsis'?

Yeah i think that the movie is trying to be too complex when the answer is very simple. Its all a dream and the totem keeps on movin in the end.

Just because Michael Caine says come back to reality doesnt mean its alll of dream, so does that also mean that he meets Ellen Page's character in a dream too, what lead you to that conclusion, @rocconeverdies

We can't know what happens, because the "totem" of Cobb's has to fall in order to know it's reality. He explains this. You never see it fall but it looks like it's going to fall. He may have felt at home or in reality, however his totem must fall in order for it to be reality. Which we never find out :P

Not really cuz, look at it this way, he woke up in the airplane which was Level 1 of the dream, which was REALITY, he got home, and you actually see his kids face but in the dreams all you see is the back like BML93 said,now cobb walked away from the totem so he knew he was finally home

Now comes the important question then. Why did Michael Caine say to Cobb "Come back to reality" if it didnt had a purpose?

only christopher nolan knows, hes the one who gave us clues to make our theories, totum falling or not, i need a theory, but yes @rocconeverdies, it is a very weird part in the movie

Nolan has shown this complex movie trick already in two films. Memento and Prestige we´re similar where the plot was making people to question what really went on in the films. But the answer was in right in front of us the hole time.

Michal Caine made an interview to the BBC radio saying that his character’s appearance in the scene where Cobb is reunited with his children means “it’s real, because I’m never in the dream". So, the final of Inception is not a dream and Cobb can really hug his children. Well, that's what Sir Caine said during a presentation of his autobiography - but I want to trust him!:-)

i will have to look that up

That is true, he was never in the dream, he was always in reality aha, thats another argument

I still have my doubts.

Well if Michael Cain said that and he wasn't joking around..then that's what happened and therefore not "another argument".

Actually the first time I watched Inception I had the same feeling, at the end: that ws the reality, Cobb, was finally at home. Then some friends of mine told me there were different interpretations, so I started to think about it... And I was not sure anymore... Now I believe there are interesting points of view (e.g. Cobb never left the dreaming dimension, his wife is not dead, but he thinks she is... etc.), and that's the point: Nolan got the attention of the audience, and make us talk... Now I decide to trust Michael Caine, and prefer to see Cobb happy with his children... The spinning top will fall, at the end (we can't see since there is The End).
Why don't we propose Nolan to film Inception 2: The Return...?:-)

I thought after the credits, there was the sound of the little top tumbling over? In the theaters, not on the DVD. I remember this but I am not sure, it could be wishful thinking. Did anyone else stay till after the credits when they saw it in theaters? That sort of affirmed the reality for me.

After seeing it again on DVD there were details that brought up questions, that I don't much remember right now since it's getting late, for both sides of the argument. So if I am just imagining the noise of the top falling over, I can't chose either side on this.